BUILDING St Sampson’s High and Le Murier schools at Les Nicolles is a decision the island will live to regret, according to consultant Chris Shepley.
His review into Guernsey’s planning service highlighted the new schools as an example of what can go wrong when there is a lack of cohesion and co-operation between States departments.
Mr Shepley (pictured) was in the island yesterday visiting members of the Environment Department and the Strategic Land Planning Group. He reiterated his concerns about the schools’ development, which has seen fierce debate in the past week about plans for a new one-way system.
He said it was unbelievable that the planners had not been involved in the decision before it was too late and that it should act as a constant reminder for the States in future dealings. ‘I thought the location of the schools was a very bad choice and it will be regretted for generations,’ said Mr Shepley.
‘I now understand that a one-way system is being introduced to get people to and from it, but this is the sort of issue that should have been looked at by planners beforehand and discussed.
‘Education should have consulted the planners. There are no other options that I can see of getting from that site other than by using a car.’
Mr Shepley said he understood that the site had been purchased for the purpose of building a school without first talking to the planners who, when later informed, argued it was not a suitable site and pointed to at least one much better alternative.
‘I agree with them that it is quite an inappropriate site, not close to its catchment or to main routes and with likely traffic problems on the approaches which islanders will regret for generations. The planners should be involved in such major decisions at the outset.’
He likened the schools’ issue to that of the States finding a permanent civic amenities site.
In his view, the States was too often doing things back to front and not involving planners till too late in the process.
And in terms of the civic amenity site, planners had not been aware of a search taking place for some time, he said.
‘They should have been involved at the earliest stage. They have the skills and information to be able to assist in finding the most suitable site.’
Mr Shepley said he expected the States to act on the recommendations included in his report and, if not, then the island had a right to criticise them.
He said it was a ‘once-in-a-10-year opportunity’ after it had failed to take on enough of the improvements outlined in similar planning reports drawn up in 1988 by Mel Dunbar and a district auditor’s report in 1998.
‘The States did some positive things as a result of each of those reports, and things did improve, but in some respects performance has got worse, particularly in terms of timescales.’
The timing of the report should also help as it will be fresh in States members’ minds at the start of their four-year term.
‘I think the timing is brilliant. It was at least partially deliberate because they are not the same people who have made the mistakes.
‘They are new people who have lots of time to put things right and hopefully that will take them a year to 18 months.
‘But the States needs to be held to account if they don’t.’
Article posted on 11th June, 2008 - 2.29pm
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